One group is praising Penn State for its planned retraining of workers on how to report child sex abuse cases.

The university committed to retrain its employees, which is already required by state law, to report suspected abuse.

In January, Penn State hired Harrisburg-based Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape to implement its program.

"You never correct for human judgment and human error when people make the wrong choices," said Kristen Houser of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. "Getting the culture of the university to be, 'We put kids first. We make reports when people are being harmed and we are active, engaged as employees and as citizens' is a significant cultural change."

In-person classes are held for all university employees and volunteers who come into contact with children.

So far, 4,000 employees have been trained.

"It's a very tall order to get that in place," Houser said. "I think in general, in American culture, we are very protective of children, but very hesitant to get involved."

Houser said Penn State's failings targeted in the Freeh Report highlights the need for more classes and to continue toward its goal of training 12,000 more Penn State employees.

"There is so much negative press going on right now about what had happened at Penn State during the past 15 years or so. This is a very positive thing and we're very pleased to be a part of it," Houser said.

The coalition's involvement with Penn State is far from over. It is working on an online course that all university employees can take, not just those required by law. The course is expected to be completed by the fall.

Penn State gave the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape a $1 million grant to provide the retraining.

Anyone who suspects sexual abuse should call the coalition's hotline at 800-772-7227.

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